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Research, OR Ignorance is Not Bliss
| Meta | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Research, OR Ignorance is Not Bliss |
| Creator: | Susan M. Garrett |
| Date(s): | April 1989 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | multifandom, print zines |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Research, OR Ignorance is Not Bliss is a 1989 essay by Susan M. Garrett.
It was first printed as a part of The Fantastically Fundamentally Functional Guide to Fandom, an instruction manual meant to explain the basics of fandom and fanworks to new fans and to be a reminder to more seasoned fans.
This essay was also reprinted in Southern Enclave #51 (Autumn 1998), which is online [ here].
The essay is meant to address careless and rude fans who both create and consume fanworks:
With a little bit of common courtesy and common sense, fans could make fandom a really keen place to work and play. Fans created this playground and only fans can be responsible for their actions.
Some Topics Discussed
- do your research so you don't look like a dope
- do your research at the library
- some hints on where to research these topics: anatomy, costume, disabilities, drugs and illness, espionage, geography and traveling, historical characters, law, paranormal, police procedure, sex, sports and hobbies, technical
From the Essay
Why should I do research? This isn’t like I’m getting graded on this or anything....
Oh foolish, foolish mortal! You do research for two reasons; accuracy and self-protection. If someone is reading your story or poem, or looking at your artwork, you can assume that they’re interested in the subject and either know something about it or are interested in learning about it. If you make mistakes in the work and the reader knows something about the subject, they may lose respect for your work or even lose interest. If the reader wants to learn about the subject and trusts you to give them correct information, then you fake everything, the reader will feel betrayed and will be highly unlikely to read your material again. By blatantly flaunting your ignorance, you send a clear message to your reader that you don’t care and expect them not to care either. And that’s assuming you make it into print in the first place. There’s nothing more annoying to an editor than getting a story that obviously hasn’t been researched. Why should she give consideration to printing a story when the author doesn’t care enough to attempt to get a few facts straight? Don’t expect your editor to do your job!
Where do I go first to research something?
That all depends on what you're researching. Most times, the library has more than enough material to answer your questions, as well as a librarian to point you in the right direction. The greatest favor you can do yourself, if you haven't done so already, is to learn your way around the card catalogue, the periodicals room ("Readers Guide to Periodical Literature" is invaluable), and the reference room — there are hundreds of indices to publications and books, bibliographies, etc.
Disabilities
If you’re writing about a person with a disability (even a temporary one— "A.J.’s blind, Mom! He’s blind!”), you owe it to yourself and your audience to be a lot more accurate than the shows and movies we love generally are. Fortunately, this isn’t all that difficult (check out "Disability Drama in Television and Film" by Lauri Klobas for some prime examples of what’s been done wrong — and right—in the past), though there are many aspects to consider, both technical (how does A J. keep his different-colored polo shirts straight until the bandages come off?) and in your writing itself.
Avoiding cliche characters and archaic terminology (someone’s only “wheelchair-bound” if they’ve been chained to it and gagged) is a must. If you don’t have someone in your life that you can consult, there are many periodicals dealing with disability-related topics, ranging from medical journals to local newsletters — "Disability Rag" is a good starting source for a fan writer. Outside the library, try your local Developmental Disabilities Council, Hotline for the Handicapped, Easter Seals Society, or other applicable organization or service — they may have a reference library you can use, or even provide you with booklets on writing about people with disabilities (e.g. "Portraying People with Disabilities in the Media or People First"). They can also point you in the right direction for doing more specific research
Sex
Yes, you already know all about it. But breaking a leg — even breaking it five or six times a week — doesn’t necessarily make you a bone specialist. Otherwise there wouldn’t be so many “adult” stories featuring bizarre technical blunders, physical impossibilities, or scenes where the author glosses over crucial moments because he or she obviously has no idea what’s actually taking place. Reading other people’s adult stories isn’t the best way to go about researching this stuff — for example, if you’re a young heterosexual female who writes slash, what do you think happens when you get your facts from stories written by other young heterosexual females who in turn got their information from...you get the picture. The library — or bookstore if you live in a town where what goes on the library shelves is kept under control "for your own good” — is the place to go. (Caveat: avoid out and out pornography, which isn’t usually at home to Mr. Realism — you’ve got plenty of imagination of your own, right? — and faddy stuff like "The G-Spot Coloring Book" or "The Women’s Astrological Sex and Cooking Journal — A Book of Days".)
Paranormal
If you’re interested in the real stuff, there are a number of organizations around that deal with everything from ghosts, to UFOs, to bigfoot, Check your local library magazine section, as well as the section on paranormal and/or religious material and you’ll probably find what you need. The reference section should hold at least one encyclopedia of the supernatural. If you’re after information on monsters or magic, you’ll want to check out the classic literary works and the commentary on them, along with the mythology/folklore/religion section of your library.
One caveat — one person’s folklore is often another person’s religion, and as such must be treated with respect. For example, don’t give a totem pole to a Native American tribe that doesn’t use them, or try to fake your way through a ritual that may or may not exist simply for the convenience of your story. It’s... well, it’s a damn stupid thing to do.
Historical Characters
If you’re writing about a real person from history in a fictional context, it’s not unlikely that you’ll need to play fast and loose with a few aspects of that person’s life. That’s acceptable if it’s nothing too outrageous. But make sure that you know the facts before you start fictionalizing. Biographies are best to start of course, but don’t forget histories of the period in question, contemporary magazines, etc. Primary source material is always helpful — try to find out if your target has any letters published, voice recordings available, or appears on film anywhere. If the person is related to your local area, a trip to the historical society will yield results.
Other Essays in This Series
- The Seven Deadly Sins of Fandom
- S.A.S.E. or You Want an Answer When?
- Telephone Courtesy OR How to Make Enemies Without Even Trying
- A Buyer's Guide to Fanzines OR How to Not Drop $200 in a Hurry
- Ordering Zines by Mail OR Waiting by the Mailbox
- The Letterzine OR The Gift of Gab
- Research, OR Ignorance is Not Bliss
- Pseudonym
- Simultaneous Submissions, Resubmittals, and Reprints, or, Where I Have I Seen This Before?
- The Fanzine Bill of Rights
- L(etter) O(f) C(omment) or How Am I Doin'?